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Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v2.c21.s3.t8: H. Saṃskāras

Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v2.c21.s3.t8

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H. Saṃskāras

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Without entering into the details of the various *saṃskāras* or rites which orthodox Hindus perform,³ we may note briefly that the fact of their having been celebrated by monarchs as well as subjects, reveals to us the inborn conservatism of the people. Rājanātha tells us the following in his *Achyutarāyābhyudayam*:

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³ For a minute account of these, see *Grihya Sūtras* (Śankhāyana), P. I, 1, Adhyāya, khanda 19-28, pp. 45-57; *Manu*, II, 29-30, pp. 34-5; 34, 36, 37, p. 36; 65, p. 42; Barnett, *Hinduism*, pp. 51-2.

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अथ पुंसवनादिकं यथावद्विहितं कर्म विशामधीश्वरेण ।
तनयस्य तदीय गर्भभाजो विभवस्येव नयो विवृद्धयेऽभूत् ॥⁴

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⁴ *Achyutarāyābhyudayam*, Canto II, v. 16, p. 36. (Srirangam, 1907.) "Then Pumsavana and other purificatory ceremonies performed according to the śāstras by the king, were for the growth of the child existing in the foetus even as righteous conduct is for the increase of prosperity." S. N. Sastri, *Achyutarāyābhyudayam*, p. 12.

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That the rulers also observed the *nāmakaraṇa* rite is proved by an epigraph dated Śaka 1386 (A. D. 1464-5) which relates that Mallikārjuna Rāya "having bathed and prepared himself to make a grant", "at the festival of giving a name to his son Dēva Rāya, in the pure Bhāskara-kṣētra at the foot of the Hēmakūṭa hill, in the presence of the god Virūpākṣa" at Hampe, made a grant of the village of Saraballige, now rechristened Gajabēṭe-Dēvarāyapura, situated in the Āraga kingdom, to Srigirinātha's eldest son Dēvappa Daṇḍādhipa, the protector of the great Āraga kingdom.¹

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¹ E. C., VIII, Tl. 206, p. 209; Gopinatha Rao, *Ep. Ind.*, XV, p. 17.

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We may also here add that kings were named after their grandfathers. This is specially noticeable in the names of the rulers of the Saṅgama dynasty. Harihara Oḍeyar's youger brother was Kampa or Kampaṇa, and the son of the latter was called Saṅgama, obviously after his grandfather Saṅgama. Bukka Rāya II was the grandson of Bukka Rāya I. Harihara Mahārāya II's son was Dēva Rāya I whose son was also called Harihara. Dēva Rāya's grandson was named Dēva Rāya II. In the Āraviḍu dynasty too we have similar instances of rulers who were named after their grandfathers. Rāma Rāya, the famous Regent, was the son of Śrīraṅga and Rāma Rāya's son was also called Śrīraṅga; and the latter's grandson was also known by the same name.²

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² Rice, *My. & Coorg*, pp. 112, 120. See also *A. S. R.* for 1907-8, pp. 246, 253; *A. S. R.* for 1908-9, p. 195.

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From the genealogical table of the engravers of Vijayanagara given in the Chapter on Administration, the reader must have realized that among them too there prevailed the custom of naming persons after their grandfathers.

Cites (3)